From the mountains of Irpinia to the embarkation for the Holy Land, discovering abbeys, sanctuaries, cathedrals, castles, caves, rivers, and lakes

The ‘Cammino’ retraces the steps of young pilgrim Guglielmo, who lived mainly in Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia, founding the abbeys of Montevergine and Goleto in Irpinia and the abbey of Santa Maria di Pierno in Basilicata.
Guglielmo walked as a very young man (not yet saint) along the European pilgrim ways: the Giacobea, the Francigena, and then the Appian. He was canonized after his death at Goleto on 24 June 1142. That’s why it’s called ‘Cammino di Guglielmo’ (Guglielmo’s Way) and not ‘Cammino di San Guglielmo’ (Saint Guglielmo’s Way).
A group of enthusiasts, who began exploring Guglielmo’s places in 2012, worked in 2023 on the 320 km of the entire historical-religious itinerary. Through their travels, they gathered support for the memorandum of understanding, established productive relationships with administrations and associations, recorded the GPX tracks, and produced extensive drone and photographic footage.
The Cammino crosses 3 regions (Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia) in 15 stages, covering a total of 320 km. It involves over 30 municipalities and 4 park authorities: the Partenio Regional Park and the Monti Picentini Regional Park in Irpinia; the Vulture Park in Basilicata, and the Ofanto River Regional Natural Park in Puglia.
It winds through the places linked to Guglielmo. First, the abbeys he founded (and built with his own hands) in Irpinia: the Montevergine Abbey and the Goleto Abbey; then the religious sites connected to Guglielmo’s foundations: the Hermitage of S. Maria della Valle (also known as S. Guglielmo’s) in Chiusano di S. Domenico (Avellino), the Abbey of S. Maria di Pierno in San Fele (Potenza), and the Monastery of S. Bartolomeo in Melfi (Potenza).
Additionally, it touches some significant places linked to Guglielmo’s hermitage and miracles: the cave of the apparition on Lake Laceno, Mount Serico above the Atella stream, Mount Crugname, and the rock church of Santa Margherita in Melfi, where we find the only contemporary fresco representing Guglielmo. Finally, in Venosa, we can rediscover the traces of the monastery founded by Blessed Agnese following her miraculous conversion by Guglielmo.
The journey ends at the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro in Barletta, the port of embarkation for the Holy Land, longed-for destination for young Guglielmo.